Malinowski ahead in CD7

A Monmouth University Poll released on Thursday found former Assistant Secretary of State Tom Malinowski leading Rep. Leonard Lance in the contest there, 47% to 39% among voters who have cast ballots who are newly-registered or have cast ballots between now and 2010.

Two other models employed by Monmouth have Malinowski leading 46% to 43% and 47% to 41%.

It appears as though voters in the district have few issues with Lance, but the unpopularity of the president and congressional Republicans’ signature achievements is dragging him down.

“It’s hard to buck a trend where voters really dislike both your party’s leader and signature accomplishment. But Lance is keeping this race close on the back of his reputation as a moderate as well as the goodwill he has built with constituents during his time in office,” Monmouth poll director Patrick Murray said. “It remains to be seen whether this will be enough to hang onto his seat.”

Voters in the district still like lance, who has a net-positive favorability rating in the district, with 35% of voters viewing him positively and 21% viewing him negatively.